WHCO

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title: "WHCO" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["country-radio-stations-in-illinois", "radio-stations-established-in-1955", "1955-establishments-in-illinois"] topic_path: "general/country-radio-stations-in-illinois" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHCO" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station"]

Field	Value
name	WHCO
logo	WHCO station logo 2019.png
logo_size	200px
city	Sparta, Illinois
area	Sparta, Illinois
Randolph County, Illinois
branding	"Real Country 1230 and 97.3 WHCO"
airdate	February 1955
frequency
format	Country
power	1,000 Watts
class	C
facility_id	27264
coordinates
owner	David and Carol Holder
licensee	Southern Illinois Radio Group, Inc.
webcast	WHCO Webstream
website	WHCO Online
affiliations	Brownfield Radio Network
Fighting Illini Sports Network
RFD Radio Network
Real Country (Westwood One)
St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Cardinals
licensing_authority	FCC
::

| name = WHCO | logo = WHCO station logo 2019.png | logo_size = 200px | city = Sparta, Illinois | area = Sparta, Illinois Randolph County, Illinois | branding = "Real Country 1230 and 97.3 WHCO" | airdate = February 1955 | frequency = | format = Country | power = 1,000 Watts | class = C | facility_id = 27264 | coordinates = | callsign_meaning = | former_callsigns = | owner = David and Carol Holder | licensee = Southern Illinois Radio Group, Inc. | sister_stations = | webcast = WHCO Webstream | website = WHCO Online | affiliations = Brownfield Radio Network Fighting Illini Sports Network RFD Radio Network Real Country (Westwood One) St. Louis Blues St. Louis Cardinals | licensing_authority= FCC

WHCO (1230 AM) is a country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Sparta, Illinois, serving Sparta and Randolph County, Illinois. WHCO is owned and operated by David and Carol Holder, through licensee Southern Illinois Radio Group, Inc.

History

WHCO began broadcasting in February 1955 and aired a country music format. It was owned by Hirsch Communication Engineering Corporation. By the early 1970s, the station was airing a middle of the road (MOR) format, along with 30 hours of country music a week. In the 1980s and 1990s, the station aired a full service format, with adult contemporary and country music, along with talk, farm, and religious programming. In 1998, the station adopted a news-talk format, carrying local programming as well as nationally syndicated hosts such as G. Gordon Liddy, Larry King, and Jim Bohannon. In 2008, WHCO returned to a country music format. In 2013, controlling interest in the station was sold to David and Carol Holder's Southern Illinois Radio Group, Inc. for $150,000.

Translator

In addition to the main station, WHCO is relayed by an FM translator. | call1 = W247CP | freq1 = 97.3 FM | fid1 = 138452 | watts1 = 250 watts | haat1 = 71 | class1 = D | city1 = Sparta, Illinois | notes1 =

References

References

1. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1971/Section-B-Radio-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1971-11.pdf 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]], 1971. p. B-67. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
2. "WHCO Facility Record". [[Federal Communications Commission]], audio division.
3. "About 1230 WHCO". WHCO.
4. [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=59416 History Cards for WHCO], fcc.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
5. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/1985-BC-YB.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting/Cablecasting]], 1985. p. B-87. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
6. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1988/1988-BC-YB.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1988]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting/Cablecasting]], 1988. p. B-92. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
7. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1992/1992-BC-YB.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Market Place 1992]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable]], 1992. p. A-113. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
8. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1997/1997-BC-YB.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1997]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable]], 1997. p. B-144. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
9. "WHCO Program Schedule". WHCO.
10. "[https://www.rbr.com/elmira-tv-gets-an-am-little-sister/ Elmira TV gets an AM little sister]", ''Radio & Television Business Report''. January 28, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
11. "W247CP Facility Record". [[Federal Communications Commission]], audio division.

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